This special issue focuses on recent research in interdisciplinary mathematics and mathematical sciences. For the last four decades, the Forum for Interdisciplinary Mathematics (FIM), a society for researchers in mathematical sciences, has focused on mathematics, combinatorics, statistics, operations research, computer science, fuzzy sets, rough sets, bioinformatics, etc.

The 22nd International Conference of FIM on Interdisciplinary Mathematics, Statistics and Computational Techniques (IMSCT 2013-FIM XXII) was held in Kitakyushu, Japan, on November 10-12, 2013. This conference was organized by the International Society of Management (ISME international), the Graduate School of Information, Production and Systems, Waseda University, in conjunction with FIM. IMSCT 2013-FIM XXII was attended by faculty members, researchers, specialists, and graduate students from around the world.

The 50 papers presented included keynote speeches by Professor Bhu Dev Sharma, Professor Milan Vlach, and Professor Tomonari Suzuki, together with five plenary talks. To promote FIMfs activities, guest editors had also planned to invite public participation in this special issue accepting nine papers, four selected papers from the conference and five papers closely related to this special issue. Each paper underwent strict peer reviews.

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Cognitive infocommunications (CogInfoCom) investigates connections between the cognitive sciences and different areas of infocommunications. CogInfoCom also focuses on engineering application fields integrating related scientific areas and results.

Cognitive infocommunications systems involve hardware and software components that collect and store information and enable users to interact with this information. Besides communication security, considerations include the amount of stored information, which may be huge. This means that there is a need for algorithms and solutions that store and process data effectively. The CogInfoCom field presents a number of motivational challenges requiring active deep research, implementation, integration and measurement.

This special issue focuses on the Cognitive Mobile Applications and Services track of the 3rd IEEE International Conference on Cognitive Infocommunications (CogInfoComf12). Mobile phones and tablets are now everyday tools that enable users to easily connect to the Internet, download social content, find interesting places, etc. Mobile technology has become one of the most important fields in the IT industry just as Web technology was 10-15 years ago. Mobile phones and tablets use sensors and interfaces like accelerometers, cameras, GPS, and thermometers that monitor and enable easier interaction with the real world. Agents hosted by mobile devices that learn from sensor-originated information also support individual applications and complex systems.

This special issue focuses on the cognitive capabilities of mobile phones, the various agents that mobile devices host, and how they can be applied efficiently in applications and services including social aspects of mobile solutions. Papers from the conference cover mobile controlled environments, mobile-supported learning, augmented reality, energy efficiency and communication techniques.

We thank the authors for submitting their papers to CogInfoCom as a venue for presenting their findings. We are also grateful to program committee members and reviewers for their efforts in making the conference and the special issue possible. We feel that these papers will provide readers with interesting and valuable results from the field of cognitive infocommunications.

This issue presents papers from the 16th annual Asia Pacific Symposium on Intelligent and Evolutionary Systems held in Kyoto, Japan, on December 12-14, 2012. Kyoto is an ancient capital whose traditions have matured through the ages, featuring rich cultural and artisanal opportunities.

The symposium brings together researchers from Asian Pacific Rim nations who are working in the fields of intelligent systems and evolutionary computation. Here they have a rare chance to exchange ideas, present their latest results and discuss possible collaboration. In order to encourage in-depth technical discourse, the number of participants is limited to about 40. The symposium allows ample time for discussions in addition to paper presentations.

We focus on papers related to recent developments in intelligent and evolutionary systems. This issue features 11 interesting and informative papers.

1. Improvement of Eye Gesture Interface System

2. Modelling and Simulation of Road Traffic Behaviour: Artificial Drivers with Personality and Emotions

3. User-Friendly Simulator for Open Modeling by Hierarchical Management

4. On the Impact of Path Redundancy Awareness in Evolutionary P2P Networking

5. Influence of Field Structure on the Multi-Agent Coverage Algorithm on Unknown Fields

6. Understanding Geographic Attentions of Crowd from Photographing Information

7. Development of Ghost Controller for Ms Pac-Man Versus Ghost Team with Grammatical Evolution

8. Construction of Molecular Learning Network

9. Fractal-Based Analysis for the Energy Consumption Efficiency of Biological Networks

10. Designing Internal Reward of Reinforcement Learning Agents in Multi-Step Dilemma Problem

11. Cooperative Transport by a Swarm Robotic System Based on CMA-NeuroES Approach

We sincerely thank all of the participants, committee members, and plenary speakers for their invaluable contributions to this symposium.

Also deserving of thanks are members of the organization: Dr. Akira Namatame (National Defense Academy), Dr. Hussein A. Abbass (University of New South Wales), Dr. Shu-Heng Chen (National Chengchi University), Dr. Mitsuo Gen (Fuzzy Logic Systems Institute), Dr. Hiroshi Kawakami (Kyoto University), Dr. Aki-Hiro Sato (Kyoto University), Dr. Hidenori Kawamura (Hokkaido University), Dr. Bob McKay (Seoul National University), Dr. Kazuhiro Ohkura (Hiroshima University), and Dr. Tomohiro Shirakawa (National Defense Academy), and program committees: Dr. Dror Kenett (Tel Aviv University), Dr. Tobias Preis (Johannes Gutenberg University), Dr. Yasushi Kambayashi (Nippon Institute of Technology), Dr. Hiroshi Sato (National Defense Academy), Dr. Sachiyo Arai (Chiba University), Dr. Saori Iwanaga (Japan Coast Guard Academy), Dr. Noman Nasimul (The University of Tokyo), Dr. Hisashi Handa (Okayama University), Dr. Mengchun Xie (Wakayama National College of Technology), Dr. Masao Kubo (National Defense Academy of Japan), Dr. Keiki Takadama (The University of Electro-Communications), Dr. Eisuke Kita (Nagoya University), Dr. Hitoshi Iba (The University of Tokyo), Dr. Yusuke Nojima (Osaka Prefecture University), Dr. Zdzislaw Burda (Jagiellonian University), and Dr. Keiji Suzuki (Hokkaido University).

Meetings of creative minds such as those taking part in this symposium are sure to encourage new creative minds.

Symposium speakers include Dr. Sung-Bae Cho of Yonsei University, Korea, Dr. Mitsuo Gen of the Fuzzy Logic Systems Institute in Japan, and Dr. Jun Wang of the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Following the Special Issue on Advanced Intelligent Systems Vol.16 No.7, Part II presents 5 progressive papers on advanced intelligent systems. They include 10 selected revised papers from the 12th International Symposium on Advanced Intelligent Systems (ISIS 2011) held at La Vie DfOr Resort, Suwon, Korea, from September 28 to October 1, 2011. A brief review of Part IIfs 5 papers follows.

A brief review of Part IIfs 5 papers follows.

The first paper proposes a new visualization technique involving non-Euclidean relational data using robust linear fuzzy clustering based on an FCMdd framework. Experimental results show that the proposed model achieves multiclass MDS and is useful for revealing complex features. The second paper proposes the detection of lower-extremity arterial regions imaged by non-enhanced MR based on particle filter algorithms. Results applied to fresh blood imaging (FBI) show that the technique is promising. The third paper presents the development of nutritional management system supporting healthy eating habits. The paper reveals new concepts in nutritional management and confirms the effectiveness of the proposed management system through numerical experiments. The fourth paper proposes an emotion generation model with growth functions for robots based on a genetic psychology concept. The technique is promising for realizing evolving emotions in robots. The fifth paper presents the fuzzy control in approaching target objects and object grabbing by a fourwheeled vision-based mobile robot. The paper presents significant developments in mobile robots from the viewpoint of industrial applications.

We thank the authors and reviewers for their great efforts in making this publication possible. We are also grateful to the JACIII editorial office for its invaluable assistance and advice in putting this issue together.

Fuzzy inference provides a way to describe system behavior using humanly understandable rules. Based on this advantage, fuzzy inference has been applied in a wide variety of fields, including control, prediction, and pattern recognition. It has also had a corresponding impact on industrial applications.

The four articles included in this special issue cover the advances made in fuzzy inference and related techniques. The first paper proposes a method for fuzzy rule interpolation on the basis of the generalized mean. This method makes it possible to perform nonlinear mapping of convex fuzzy sets even with sparse fuzzy rules. The second paper proposes a fuzzy clustering algorithm, landmark fuzzy neighborhood DBSCAN (landmark FN-DBSCAN). This algorithm is quite efficient in the clustering of large data sets, particularly compared to conventional density-based algorithms. Fuzzy clustering can be used to construct fuzzy rule bases. The third paper applies fuzzy inference to ultrasonic human brain imaging based on YURAGI synthesis. In this method, the thickness of bones is calculated effectively from synthesized waves using fuzzy inference. The fourth paper applies adaptive neurofuzzy inference systems (ANFIS) to financial institution failure prediction. These systems function effectively in the handling of the finance data of Thai firms with high nonlinearity.

As a guest editor, I really appreciate the efforts of the contributors and reviewers. I am very grateful to staffs in JACIII editorial office for their kind support.

Recently many utilities, manufacturers, researchers, government leaders around the world are working on a very sophisticated issue, Smart Grid, to modernize both the electric power transmission and distribution grids for the future.

As a suitable subject for special issue for the Journal of Advanced Computational Intelligence and Intelligent Informatics (JACIII), I found that Smart Grid with its impacts on many fields is a timely subject though related to the fundamental concept of this Journal on Intelligence and real-world applications and so forth. Smart grids are intelligent and self-healing power systems which integrate intelligent transmission network with IT and collect, distribute, and process information about the behavior of all power suppliers and consumers in order to improve reliability, power quality, and to reduce electricity costs. Using a key issue, smart meter, enables smart grids to have smart real time monitoring on a regional and national scale to control and management the grids to avoid or mitigate the system-wide blackouts. In this special issue, we hope to explore breakthrough and new contributions useful to achieve the goal of smart grid.

Three papers were selected for this special issue: The first paper proposes a novel idea though a strategic system in energy and environment required in smart grid. Managing sources combination including solar energy as well as the production trading is a new kind of risk management in smart grid. Important extensions of this study includes emissions management program accommodating uncertain and erratic renewable energy sources such as solar and wind energies. The second paper is related to communication aspect required for smart grid technology when renewable energy in small smart communities is interconnected to the smart grid. The simulation model developed in this paper is believed to be a useful tool in real-time power management system in smart grid. Third paper is selected as another hot subject in smart grids; the authors developed an extended procedure that obtains a unit commitment including a significant wind power penetration and PEVs as additional reserves. The shadow prices obtained by the trade-off analysis may provide a basis of evaluating the equivalent cost of the wind farms and the applying PEVs as the reserve and their contribution toward CO2 reduction.

Finally, using this opportunity, I would like to thank the reviewers for spending their valuable time for evaluating the papers and quick response which made this special issue catch the time. I would also like to thank the JACIII editorial office for their great assistance for preparing this special issue.

The 12th International Symposium on Advanced Intelligent Systems (ISIS 2011) held at La Vie DfOr Resort, Suwon, Korea, on September 28 to October 1, 2011, featured presentations by researchers, engineers and practitioners on the latest accomplishments, innovations and applications in artificial intelligence, intelligent systems, and information technology. The 152 papers consisted of 110 regular papers, 39 organized session papers and 3 invited papers were contributed to the conference. The Program Committee requested ISIS 2011 reviewers to select papers for a special issue of the Journal of Advanced Computational Intelligence & Intelligent Informatics (JACIII), of which about 10 were accepted for publication in a twopart ISIS 2011 special issue, Vol.16, No.7, containing 5 papers. Part II will feature about 5 papers.

A brief review of Part I covers 5 papers:

First paper proposes a quantitative model for assessing the collision risk in maritime waterway traffic. The method proposes recent maritime traffic characteristics in time-variant CPA waterway environments and models a dynamic causation factor as a risk indicator. Second paper proposes multiagent query refinement realizing personalized query refinement by three strategies ? knowledge-based query expansion, user-device-based query and weighted query expansion strategy. These approaches determine the domain that the initial query belongs to and expand the query by comprehensively considering user interests. Third paper presents variable-step-size incremental conductance direct maximum power point tracking using fuzzy membership for a standalone photovoltaic system under rapidly changing irradiation. Fourth paper applies a natural actor-critic (NAC) and natural evolution strategies (NES) from natural-gradient-based machine learning to path-tracking control problems for autonomous vehicles. Fifth paper presents features for authenticating painting style, specifically that of Piet Mondrain. It demonstrates meaningful features using two supervised learning algorithms ? decision tree induction algorithm C4.5 and the feature generating machine (FGM) ? selecting important features in the course of learning.

We thank the reviewers for their time and effort in making this special issue available so quickly. We are also grateful to the JACIII editorial office for invaluable assistance and advice in putting the issue together.

On February 22, 2010, Prof. Ebrahim H. Mamdani who devised Mamdani fuzzy inference has passed away. His work in fuzzy inference, which rapidly paved the way to its practical use, helped disseminate Prof. Lotfi Zadehfs fuzzy logic and the development of fuzzy research.

Prof. Mamdanifs two papers on fuzzy inference ? gApplication of fuzzy algorithms for control of simple dynamic planth (Proc. IEE, Vol.121, No. 12, pp. 1585-1588, 1974) and gAn experiment in linguistic synthesis with a fuzzy logic controllerh (Int. J. of Man-Machine Studies, Vol.7, No.1, pp. 1-13, 1975) with S. Assilian ? enabled fuzzy inference technology to develop dramatically both indicatively and indirectly to where it has been applied, including fuzzy control systems.

This special issue honors Prof. Mamdani for his invaluable efforts in these and many other fields. We have asked for submissions by researchers influenced by Prof. Mamdanifs achievements, including his work in fuzzy inference, and have narrowed down to one review and seven full papers. The review by Hirosato Seki and Kai Meng Tay provides an incisive overview on the many aspects of fuzzy inference that Prof. Mamdani brought to light.

Prof. Mamdanifs fuzzy inference has become a deterministic technology that can be chosen naturally and that will continue to be influential and survivable well into the future.

Modeling and simulation play pivotal roles in engineering design. Tools for modeling and simulation have led to both faster design, higher viability and lower design cost. This special issue presents 10 papers on modeling and simulation in a variety of applications.

The first paper, by Sayed Mohammad Reza Loghmanian et al., is entitled gNonlinear Dynamic System Identification Using Volterra Series: Multi-Objective Optimization Approach.h This paper deals with system identification of the nonlinear dynamic system based on an optimized Volterra model structure. The developed model fulfilled two criteria, or objectives, namely, good predictive accuracy and optimum model structure. Genetic algorithms are applied to search for significant Volterra kernels among all possible candidate model combinations.

The second paper, by Masao Ogino et al., is entitled gA Large-Scale Magnetostatic Analysis Using an Iterative Domain Decomposition Method Based on the Minimal Residual Method.h Large-scale 3D nonlinear magnetostatic analysis using the domain decomposition method (DDM) improves convergence based on the conjugate residual (CR) method. Compared to the conjugate gradient method, the CR method and minimal residual method both improve the convergence rate and show stable convergence behavior in solving an interface problem. Computation time is largely reduced for this large-scale problem, which has about 10 million degrees of freedom.

The third paper, by Yoshiyuki Yamashita, is on gSemi-Qualitative Trend Analysis for the Monitoring of Process Control Loops,h and deals with a qualitative approach, rather than an analytical approach, in monitoring process plants. Using this method enabled us to diagnose a control valve problem in a process control loop. Several applications are also discussed.

The fourth paper, by Hiroshi Dan and Hiroshi Kanayama, is entitled gFinite Element Analysis of Tsunami by Viscous Shallow-Water Equations.h With the number of tsunamis and earthquakes occurring worldwide today, such simulation is important in many fields. Viscous shallow-water equations are derived from three-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations under hydrostatic assumptions. This approach is used to simulate a tsunami in Hakata Bay.

The fifth paper, by Junzo Watada et al., is entitled gAn Affective Approach to Developing Marketing Strategies of Mineral Water.h This research concerns the development of a marketing strategy for mineral water based on taste features obtained by chemically and physically analyzing the taste components of mineral water. Two-dimensional analysis of self-organizing map (SOM) was used to classify the evaluation of taste data. Data characteristics are recognized in the taste of mineral water by correlation analysis. A combination of principal component analysis and SOM classifies the taste of mineral water. Marketing strategies are also concluded after evaluation.

The sixth paper, by Yoshitsugu Aoki et al., is entitled gNew Approach for Antisense Oligonucleotide-Mediated Exon Skipping in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.h It reviews highlights of the challenges in antisense oligonucleotide-based therapeutics for treating and Intelligent Informatics DMD, focusing on exon 51-skipping.

The seventh paper, entitled gBuilding a Type-2 Fuzzy Qualitative Regression Model,h is by Yicheng Wei and Junzo Watada. From a theoretical fuzzy-set point of view, uncertainty exists in the membership function value of a type-1 fuzzy set, greatly impacting on the fuzziness of the external criterion of the qualitative objective. This paper models qualitative change in the external criterionfs fuzziness by applying the type-2 fuzzy set. Here, qualitative values are assumed to be fuzzy degrees of membership in qualitative categories, and qualitative change in the objective external criterion is given as the fuzziness of output.

The eighth paper, entitled gPSO-Particle Filter-Based Biometric Measurement for Human Tracking,h is by Zhenyuan Xu and Junzo Watada. It discusses an interesting application based on particle swarm optimization (PSO). Its objective is to build a mathematical model and a method for human tracking that can be used for biometric surveillance. This human tracking marks the size of human beings and objects in a picture to that if the picture is placed in a framework of axes, height and other biometric lengths can be calculated.

The ninth paper, by Josu? Roberto Lozano et al. is on g360 Degree Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty in Mexican Population.h This research uses statistical analysis of Repeated Measures One-Sample T Test, Paired-Samples T Test + Pearson Correlation Coefficient Test, and the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test in order to evaluate the efficiency of Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty procedure (SLT procedure). The authors showed in the paper that the treatment with SLT applied to Mexican patients with OAG reduces IOP and the patientfs need for topical medical therapy, which can lead to a better control of the disease and compliance to treatment.

The tenth paper, by Shinichiro Terasaki and Shinfya Nagasawa, is on gThe Relationship Between Brand Integrity and Business Continuity ? A Case Study of Japanese Long-Standing Company, Shioyoshiken ?.h The Shioyoshiken brand of Japanese sweets is well appreciated by individual customers who emphasise the value of customized sweets, particularly for Japanese tea parties and weddings. This case study explores Shioyoshiken gRashisa,h or gidentity,h to identify the secret of its long-standing brand strength.